As a kid I always thought that Gough was like a senator from ancient Rome. He always stood on the steps of buildings, not being interviewed by journalists but orating to them. Margaret was always there, also head and shoulders above the crowd, often a little wry smile, as if something Gough said had touched a chord, or, perhaps there was a little private joke. She never seemed like a PM’s wife. She was more like an independent stateswoman, who was there to back someone in whom she believed. They both wrought great changes, not just politically, but socially. They changed attitudes towards Aboriginals. They had the temerity to treat them as human!
She certainly changed things didn’t she. PM’s wives were almost invisible before here. Wives of PM’s after also played a role perhaps that was one of her legacies. Janette Howard the odd one out though, was a one legged arse kicker.
Quite so, that’s why Jannet married an arsehole, algie!
Wives of PMs before Margaret were better off not seen. Their husbands (Coalition shits) thought that they, as men, were privileged by the holy spirit itself and they, by and large, married obsequious twits who looked at how to re-decorate the lodge or open the local cafe. Margaret was a real lefty’s wife. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Gough call her “my wife.” More often, “my consort” and suchlike.
This is one couple which people can say with confidence that they complimented one another in a positive way throughout all of the bits and pieces of their marriage. I met the two two together on three occasions and Gough without Margaret once more. On all three occasions they were wonderfully comfortable with each other and both mingled with everyone and spoke freely and honestly with everyone. Mum and dad met them on I think only one occasion and mum couldn’t get enough of him. I don’t know if anyone remembers a fantastic Greek laborite (State, Vic) called Theo Sidiropoulos. We were very close friends with him and met Gough and Margaret through him and through our connection to the ALP. Dad would cut off his right arm for Gough if the need arose.
Gough came to Sidiropoulos’ funeral and spoke most eloquently about him.
Lovely, inspirational man, lovely, inspirational woman. It will be a very sad loss for Gough and I hope aussies look at Margaret’s life for a model of humaneness.
Deeply saddened at the news. A great woman. An impressive intellect and a woman of strong moral fibre and conviction. A truly enormous loss, but a life lived to the fullest.
For some unknown reason I imagined Gough would go first – still the nineties are uncharted territories for everyone in our family. No relative I know of has made it past 89.
I regard myself as a child of the Whitlam era (as do many of my generation) – at Uni when he was PM ending 23 years of stultifying backward Britishness. When Gough made university free – entrance on merit he liberated the working class in Australia forever. Sons and daughters of factory workers could and did become doctors, lawyers, artists, engineers…… and we pulled out of the disastrous conflict in Vietnam.
The Whitlams were a game-changing pivotal point in Australian history and we will enjoy Gough and Margaret’s legacy forever.
I thiink Tom Uren is still living. People like Tom and Gough et al were special in that they fought in WW11 and were survivors. I met Tom Uren too – he was lovely. On the other hand we had the mean and miserable inbetweeners like Howard whose professed love of Australia and our history was limited to the whitewash version and the picket fence and his only vision was to kill off unions. A miserable sod. Gough and Margaret saw and did things differently and by their example were always something to be proud of. Politics has changed so much and with the way the Libs and the likes of Abbott see us and the world, the future now lies with more young people stepping up to the mark. We can but hope, just as we did in the 60s.
Viv, Tom Uren used to live just down the street from us in Balmain, I remember once coming from city by bus and Tom was there as well, we walked down the street together , he must have known I was a fellow Labor person, he gave me a big hug before walking home…
I found it unusual gesture from an older Aussie bloke…but then us Laborites are a bit special 🙂
Still live and kicking. I lived near Tom in Birchgrove too, Viv. Gave him a lift to the shops once. It was an honour to have the great man in my car. He is a surviving POW and holds no malice towards the Japanese. Tom was also a boxer – ironic for a man of peace.
I was suprised Margaret wend befor the great man. He is 96 going 97 I believe. The changes made to the is country were significant and long lasting. For me it was the getting rid of the last vestiges of the White Australia Policy, the pulling out of the troops from Veitnam and the free tertiary education.
She sure was a tower of strength and a great wit. I hardly ever see the . I suppose so does the rest of the world! Is there a reason for keeping that . obscure?
Really. Labor of course. First Labor government after 23 years of Liberal govts, mostly under Menzies the lover of all things pommy. You might have come close to meeting Menzies as he spent half of his time in the UK.
My Australian education started in 1990. I got here in 1988, but was busy going to BBQs and being stunned with how cheap everything was compared to The UK.
I never looked at local TV, or newspapers. I just started to take note of a sort of slide and malcontent, around the time of the pilot’s strike, which seemed to have devastating effect on the eastern seaboard. I think it was all downhill from then.
There was a general feeling of doom and gloom until 1996. And suddenly like a chrysalis, Australia blossomed and the smiles returned.
Now we have got all this back-bighting and gloom again. . Every State a basket case and in debt, despite a boom.
Let’s pray that next Sat, 24th gives Queensland a fillip and guides us to a federal renaissance, next year. I can’t stand much more of Gillard, Wong, Brown, Combet, Conroy, Rudd and Carr – who presided over the demise of NSW. In fact in fairness to Rudd – he was a better and more accomplished foreign minister than most of the previous.
The present incumbents are just out of their depth running a country. Union committees; with all the backstabbing is their go!
YUP, I like fun and there is none.
Not out for a political argument BTW. I’m just summing up my dejection at the hands of these remedials. It’s depressing.
Excepting WA, I should have said. Never been there, but they are doing OK with the mining boom. I think that they are Liberal. Actually I’m not 100% sure.
Yes, you would have that view. For me it is the complete opposite on the federal side. State governments are never as bad as they seem (with the occasional exception) but the thing is that often when it is Labor federally it is Liberal state-wise and vice versa and they are usually at stupid loggerheads playing stupid games. NSW always building roads when rail is needed regardless of whether they are Lib or Lab. Queensland had decades of rule under the Nats and were openly corrupt. Qld only went ahead under Labor but they still are the worst drivers in the country. But, regardless of all that Australia is the best place to live and that is probably why you are still here VL.
PS – loved your risotto with eggplant. I had something very similar at Rutherglen some years ago and it was truly heavenly (I cleaned up the plate with my fingers). I think the one I had there also had a little asparagus in it and it was creamy, luscious, tasty. A cafe attached to one of the wineries of course.
WA worst. I believe you. I haven’t been there since I was 8 years old and only remember seeing a lake which apparently was actually the Swan River. Daughter’s time in Qld and her reports of drivers there is my source of info. Though I would have to say we have more than our share of nincumpoop drivers in Albury-Wodonga. Made worse by the Vics who do U turns at traffic lights in NSW.
You must have noticed at around the same time I did Gerard, where I posted something on the dot. Met her once at the opening of an art photography exhibition, Mrs A was part of, There might have been 20 people ther, she was very encouraging to thos who took part. She encourage many a young artist.
Window Dresser's Arms, Pig & Whistle 
As a kid I always thought that Gough was like a senator from ancient Rome. He always stood on the steps of buildings, not being interviewed by journalists but orating to them. Margaret was always there, also head and shoulders above the crowd, often a little wry smile, as if something Gough said had touched a chord, or, perhaps there was a little private joke. She never seemed like a PM’s wife. She was more like an independent stateswoman, who was there to back someone in whom she believed. They both wrought great changes, not just politically, but socially. They changed attitudes towards Aboriginals. They had the temerity to treat them as human!
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She certainly changed things didn’t she. PM’s wives were almost invisible before here. Wives of PM’s after also played a role perhaps that was one of her legacies. Janette Howard the odd one out though, was a one legged arse kicker.
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Quite so, that’s why Jannet married an arsehole, algie!
Wives of PMs before Margaret were better off not seen. Their husbands (Coalition shits) thought that they, as men, were privileged by the holy spirit itself and they, by and large, married obsequious twits who looked at how to re-decorate the lodge or open the local cafe. Margaret was a real lefty’s wife. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Gough call her “my wife.” More often, “my consort” and suchlike.
This is one couple which people can say with confidence that they complimented one another in a positive way throughout all of the bits and pieces of their marriage. I met the two two together on three occasions and Gough without Margaret once more. On all three occasions they were wonderfully comfortable with each other and both mingled with everyone and spoke freely and honestly with everyone. Mum and dad met them on I think only one occasion and mum couldn’t get enough of him. I don’t know if anyone remembers a fantastic Greek laborite (State, Vic) called Theo Sidiropoulos. We were very close friends with him and met Gough and Margaret through him and through our connection to the ALP. Dad would cut off his right arm for Gough if the need arose.
Gough came to Sidiropoulos’ funeral and spoke most eloquently about him.
Lovely, inspirational man, lovely, inspirational woman. It will be a very sad loss for Gough and I hope aussies look at Margaret’s life for a model of humaneness.
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Deeply saddened at the news. A great woman. An impressive intellect and a woman of strong moral fibre and conviction. A truly enormous loss, but a life lived to the fullest.
For some unknown reason I imagined Gough would go first – still the nineties are uncharted territories for everyone in our family. No relative I know of has made it past 89.
I regard myself as a child of the Whitlam era (as do many of my generation) – at Uni when he was PM ending 23 years of stultifying backward Britishness. When Gough made university free – entrance on merit he liberated the working class in Australia forever. Sons and daughters of factory workers could and did become doctors, lawyers, artists, engineers…… and we pulled out of the disastrous conflict in Vietnam.
The Whitlams were a game-changing pivotal point in Australian history and we will enjoy Gough and Margaret’s legacy forever.
Vale Margaret Whitlam.
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For some reason, I also allways thought that Gough would go first…
An amazing couple, where are they all now, the people who make the difference.
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I thiink Tom Uren is still living. People like Tom and Gough et al were special in that they fought in WW11 and were survivors. I met Tom Uren too – he was lovely. On the other hand we had the mean and miserable inbetweeners like Howard whose professed love of Australia and our history was limited to the whitewash version and the picket fence and his only vision was to kill off unions. A miserable sod. Gough and Margaret saw and did things differently and by their example were always something to be proud of. Politics has changed so much and with the way the Libs and the likes of Abbott see us and the world, the future now lies with more young people stepping up to the mark. We can but hope, just as we did in the 60s.
LikeLike
Viv, Tom Uren used to live just down the street from us in Balmain, I remember once coming from city by bus and Tom was there as well, we walked down the street together , he must have known I was a fellow Labor person, he gave me a big hug before walking home…
I found it unusual gesture from an older Aussie bloke…but then us Laborites are a bit special 🙂
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Still live and kicking. I lived near Tom in Birchgrove too, Viv. Gave him a lift to the shops once. It was an honour to have the great man in my car. He is a surviving POW and holds no malice towards the Japanese. Tom was also a boxer – ironic for a man of peace.
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I was suprised Margaret wend befor the great man. He is 96 going 97 I believe. The changes made to the is country were significant and long lasting. For me it was the getting rid of the last vestiges of the White Australia Policy, the pulling out of the troops from Veitnam and the free tertiary education.
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Looks like I’m out by a year Gough is 95.
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A good life lived. I cooked Margaret and Gough sausages at a BBQ down this way many years ago. I love them both.
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She sure was a tower of strength and a great wit. I hardly ever see the . I suppose so does the rest of the world! Is there a reason for keeping that . obscure?
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It’s a hidey hole, I guess. It’s exclusive and..membership only.
I don’t know anything about this lady, or her husband. But RIP, nevertheless.
Well that’s not totally true, I know that he was a PM. However I don’t know whether he was Liberal, or Labour.
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Really. Labor of course. First Labor government after 23 years of Liberal govts, mostly under Menzies the lover of all things pommy. You might have come close to meeting Menzies as he spent half of his time in the UK.
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My Australian education started in 1990. I got here in 1988, but was busy going to BBQs and being stunned with how cheap everything was compared to The UK.
I never looked at local TV, or newspapers. I just started to take note of a sort of slide and malcontent, around the time of the pilot’s strike, which seemed to have devastating effect on the eastern seaboard. I think it was all downhill from then.
There was a general feeling of doom and gloom until 1996. And suddenly like a chrysalis, Australia blossomed and the smiles returned.
Now we have got all this back-bighting and gloom again. . Every State a basket case and in debt, despite a boom.
Let’s pray that next Sat, 24th gives Queensland a fillip and guides us to a federal renaissance, next year. I can’t stand much more of Gillard, Wong, Brown, Combet, Conroy, Rudd and Carr – who presided over the demise of NSW. In fact in fairness to Rudd – he was a better and more accomplished foreign minister than most of the previous.
The present incumbents are just out of their depth running a country. Union committees; with all the backstabbing is their go!
YUP, I like fun and there is none.
Not out for a political argument BTW. I’m just summing up my dejection at the hands of these remedials. It’s depressing.
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Excepting WA, I should have said. Never been there, but they are doing OK with the mining boom. I think that they are Liberal. Actually I’m not 100% sure.
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Yes, you would have that view. For me it is the complete opposite on the federal side. State governments are never as bad as they seem (with the occasional exception) but the thing is that often when it is Labor federally it is Liberal state-wise and vice versa and they are usually at stupid loggerheads playing stupid games. NSW always building roads when rail is needed regardless of whether they are Lib or Lab. Queensland had decades of rule under the Nats and were openly corrupt. Qld only went ahead under Labor but they still are the worst drivers in the country. But, regardless of all that Australia is the best place to live and that is probably why you are still here VL.
PS – loved your risotto with eggplant. I had something very similar at Rutherglen some years ago and it was truly heavenly (I cleaned up the plate with my fingers). I think the one I had there also had a little asparagus in it and it was creamy, luscious, tasty. A cafe attached to one of the wineries of course.
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Vivenne, You need to go to Western Australia if you really want to see the countries worst drivers. They make Queenslanders look skillful.
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WA worst. I believe you. I haven’t been there since I was 8 years old and only remember seeing a lake which apparently was actually the Swan River. Daughter’s time in Qld and her reports of drivers there is my source of info. Though I would have to say we have more than our share of nincumpoop drivers in Albury-Wodonga. Made worse by the Vics who do U turns at traffic lights in NSW.
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You get that in Sydney, and you almost don’t need to see what paltes are on the car.
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You must have noticed at around the same time I did Gerard, where I posted something on the dot. Met her once at the opening of an art photography exhibition, Mrs A was part of, There might have been 20 people ther, she was very encouraging to thos who took part. She encourage many a young artist.
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